Howlett will take up a new sales and distribution director role at Solmar, which was acquired by Kuoni parent Der Touristik – now Dertour – in January 2024.
In his new post, Howlett will shape and execute sales and distribution strategy, develop the sales team and grow relationships with travel agents, tour operators and online travel agents.
Prior to joining Hurtigruten almost four years ago, Howlett worked for Fred Holidays, Uniworld and Collette.
Sharon Bradbury, Solmar Villas general manager, said: "This is a critical role for the business and with James’s stellar background and results-driven approach to leadership, we know he’s going to make a real difference to our business and be a great fit with our company culture.”
Howlett explained he was "excited" to join Solmar at an important stage in its growth, saying: "The team has already done a fantastic job building a strong brand, trusted trade partnerships, and real momentum across both B2B and B2C channels."
"Having led the UK and EMEA sales strategy at Hurtigruten, I’m looking forward to bringing that experience to Solmar and supporting the team, strengthening our distribution partnerships and building on the great work already underway to drive sustainable growth," he added.
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Iain Powell, chief commercial officer at Hurtigruten, said: “During his time with Hurtigruten, James has been a valued member of the team and has supported our efforts in strengthening relationships with agents and partners.
"We thank him for his dedication and contributions and wish him every success in the next chapter of his career.”
Upon acquiring Solmar, Dertour said its aim was to make the brand's portfolio of 1,600-plus villas available through Kuoni's retail network. It also pledged to make Solmar into a UK market leader.
